State opposes bail for Woodworth

Thursday

Jan 17, 2013 at 11:53 AMJan 17, 2013 at 11:55 AM

The state of Missouri has filed opposition with the Missouri Supreme Court in response to Mark Woodworth's request for bail.

The state's high court last week ordered that Woodworth's convictions be vacated, and stated that he should be discharged from the state's custody within 60 days, unless the state files a petition to retry him.

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced following the Supreme Court's ruling, that the state would seek a new trial against Woodworth, who is currently serving four life sentences in the shooting death of Catherine Robertson and the criminal assault of her husband, Lyndel, in 1990.

Woodworth, who was 16 at the time of the shootings, has maintained his innocence since he was indicted by a Livingston County grand jury in 1993. He was first convicted in 1995 on the charges and sentenced to 31 years in prison. Woodworth appealed his convictions, arguing, among other things, that the prosecution failed to make a submissible case and that the trial court erred in excluding evidence regarding another individual.

It is unknown, at this time, when the Supreme Court will rule on the motion regarding the state's opposition to bail.